EXCLUSIVE! Afternoons With Amos Talks With United Way’s Top Execs About “The New U” Priorities

The United Way of Central Indiana, which serves Indianapolis/Marion County, along with Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks and Morgan Counties, has launched a major revision of its priorities and the priorities of its funded agencies. The initiative is called The New U, a commitment to make measurable improvements in priority community issues facing Indianapolis and Central Indiana. The New U involves United Way focusing on specific goals to be reached by the years 2020 and 2021 in the areas of Education, Income, Health, and Basic Needs. The New U will align the United Way’s efforts including public policy work and partnerships around these measurable community goals. One reason is because United Way feels continuing with past approaches won’t produce the progress needed to change community conditions.

United Way Dir of Research Demetrius Glover

In an in depth Afternoons with Amos interview, United Way President/CEO Ann Murtlow and two other key United Way executives appeared to explain The New U goals to the listeners and the community. The major The New U areas are: EDUCATION– which includes goals of having 80% of Central Indiana child care facilities be high quality by 2021; 90% of Central Indiana 3rd graders reading at grade level by 2021 and 90% of Central Indiana high school students graduate on-time. INCOME – By 2020 reducing to only 25% the percentage of Central Indiana families that pay 30% or more of their income in rent/utilities. HEALTH – Reducing Central Indiana’s child obesity rate by 10% and improve overall health rankings in Central Indiana’s counties. BASIC NEEDS – Ensure that the basic needs of Central Indiana residents are met. Joining Amos and Murtlow in discussing the United Way The New U were Demetrius Glover, United Way’s Director of Research and Christie Gillespie, Director of Agency Services.